December 2021

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! As we worshiped on the fourth Sunday of advent, the focus of worship was God’s great love for the world, the love that sent His Son Jesus for us. Then we considered from Luke 2 that God is active all around us. He is moving and working. We saw that God can move the world to see His purposes accomplished. We saw God moves the humble to provide miraculous witness to His salvation. The old man Simeon, when he saw and held Jesus, said he had seen God’s salvation! Salvation is not a religion, philosophy, or creed. Salvation is a person. Salvation is Jesus. Jesus is salvation. We are not saved by believing a religion. We are saved by believing in Jesus, by receiving and embracing Him. We saw we also need, like Simeon, to “take Jesus in our arms,” to receive Jesus, take Him into our lives. Finally, we understood that God moves His people who long for His activity to praise Him as they see Him working. Do we have eyes to see Him? Are we looking for and expecting Him to move? God is working and He is moving all around us!

There will be no Bible Study on December 26 or January 2.  We will only have morning worship on those days.

We are taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions during December. 100% of this offering goes to missionaries on the field taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. When you give to the Lottie Moon offering, make your checks out to East Madison Baptist church, and use the Lottie Moon envelopes.

Our Christmas Eve service will be on Friday, December 24 at 5:00 PM.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. 

Have a wonderful week and a Merry Christmas!

Love being your pastor,

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! As we worshiped on the third Sunday of advent, we focused on the joy we have because the Lord has come. From Matthew one, we thought about how to make choices and decisions that will glorify God. We are going to have to make many choices in life. If we seek God and want to do His will, we can make good choices, even though sometimes they may be hard choices. We need to determine as best we can to do what is right, what is God’s will, in every circumstance. We need to be careful not to make hasty decision but be open to the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit. We need to be open to God revealing His purposes in those circumstances in the course of action He wants you to take. And when we know God’s will, we need to seek to obey God quickly. Determine to do what God would have you do, what is right, in every circumstance. God’s will for all is good, pleasing, and perfect.

We took some donuts to the staff at Kennedy School Friday as a token of our appreciation to them for their work. We sent this note alone with the donuts:

Kennedy Staff. We know the pressures are great on all who work with children, especially this year. We want you to know with this small token of appreciation how grateful we are for all you do. We pray God‘s richest blessings on all of you during this holiday season. Your friends at East Madison Baptist Church, Bob Ray, Pastor

We are taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions during December. 100% of this offering goes to missionaries on the field taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. When you give to the Lottie Moon offering, make your checks out to East Madison Baptist church, and use the Lottie Moon envelopes.

Our Christmas Eve service will be on Friday, December 24 at 5:00 PM.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. 

Have a wonderful week!

Love being your pastor,

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday as we observed the second Sunday of Advent, we considered the hope we have because of Jesus. We remembered the hope we have as we celebrated the Lord’s Supper remembering our sins are forgiven and we are justified in Jesus. We found in Luke 1 the truth that if we are remembered, it ought to be from our connection to Christ Jesus. Through Mary’s eyes we saw the inherent greatness of Jesus, even while He was in her womb. We considered the uniqueness of Jesus’ birth. Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, fully God and fully man. We saw the power of the first witnesses to Jesus in Elizabeth and her unborn baby, John. John jumped in praise even within Elizabeth’s womb! Elizabeth testified that Jesus was Lord even while Jesus was in Mary’s womb! Finally, we saw the beautiful song of praise Mary sang to the greatness of our God, how God brings down the rich and powerful and exalts the humble. We know Mary of Nazareth because of her great Son. May others know us today, and in the future only and because of our connection to our great and only Savior. May we continually point to how great Jesus is!

We are taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions during December. 100% of this offering goes to missionaries on the field taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. When you give to the Lottie Moon offering, make your checks out to East Madison Baptist Church and use the Lottie Moon envelopes.

Our Christmas Eve service will be on Friday, December 24 at 5:00 PM.

Remember to keep praying continually for each other. 

Have a wonderful week!

Love being your pastor,

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church